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N. PETERS, FMOTOZLITHOGRAFHER WASH NGTON D C ELI THAY-nmornnw Yon-K. N.Y.

Letters Patent No. 61,119, dated January 8, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

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TO ALL WIIOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Beit knownthat I, ELI THAYER, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and` improved Method of Making the SolesofvBoots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fulland eXactdeseription thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in making the tap-soles of boots andshoes in several transverse sections. Its advantages overthe method nowin use, of attaching the outer sole in a single piece, are, rst, greaterlexibility; second, greater durability;` third, it prevents sqneaking;fourth, it allows a more free and natural action to the muscles andjoints of the foot; fifth, it is much more economical, since the solemade in this way may be composed entirely of waste fragments of leather.

Figure lrepresents a side view of the sole ot" a boot or shoe, a b c 2,&c., being the ends of the transverse sections.

Figure 2 represents the bottom ofthe sole7 a c d, Ste., representing thetransverse sections.

These sections may it closely to each other, or they may be separated byasmall space. They may be made of leathenrubber, metal, wood, or'anyother suitable material, and may be either solid or hollow. They may beattached to the upper sole by means of nails, pegs, rivets, screws, orthread, at the ends only, or througho ut. They may consist of one layeror thickness, or of several, according to the service required of them.They may be attached -to the principal sole before that is attached tothe upper leather, or afterward. They may be attached in sections, or inone piece, and cut into sections afterward. In the latter case,provision would need to be made in the sewing or nailing, so that thesubsequent dividing into sections might'not 'injure the manufacture.ABut as this` method is more expensive than the other, and in no waybetter, it is not likely to be used. The spaces between the sections maybe either vacant or lled, wholly or `in part, with some elasticsubstance.

Having now described its construction and use, what I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' The making thetap-soles of boots or shoes in several transverse sections of leather,substantially as setl forth.

ELI THAYER.

Witnesses:

`B. FRANKLIN CLARK,

C. F. THAYER.

